‘WWE NXT’ Review (May 21st 2024)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down in this episode…
Match #1: Fallon Henley def. Thea Hail
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Fallon Henley punched her ticket to NXT Battleground by defeating her former friend Thea Hail, thanks to an unintentional assist from Chase U ally Ridge Holland. Hail had the upper hand and a frustrated Henley slid out of the ring and grabbed a chair, only to be thwarted by Holland. The NXT official was unaware that it was Henley that introduced the weapon, and promptly ejected Holland as well as all of Chase U. Hail managed to rally without her teammates, but Henley managed to knock her around the ring before hitting a Shining Wizard to punctuate her win. After the match, Jacy Jayne’s friend Jazmyn Nyx attacked the helpless Hail.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Nathan Frazer & Axiom def. The D’Angelo Family
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The NXT Tag Team Titles remain with Nathan Frazer and Axiom, but they paid a dear price for it. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Luca Crusifino represented The D’Angelo Family with pride, and came seconds away from capturing gold to match Tony D’Angelo’s newly won NXT Heritage Cup. Still upset about that win, Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne and Damon Kemp of No Quarter Catch Crew attacked Tony D on the outside, allowing Frazer to capitalize inside the ring and roll up Stacks for the win. After the match, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson appeared and attacked the champions, sending a message that they want the next title opportunity at NXT Battleground.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Triple Threat Match – Wes Lee and Joe Coffey def. Josh Briggs
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Oba Femi’s No. 1 Contender was meant to be determined in a Triple Threat Match, but the NXT North American Champion and the NXT Universe walked out with more questions than answers after the match. Joe Coffey replaced an injured Ivar in the match, leading to a slugfest between the Scottish Superstar and the towering Josh Briggs. Wes Lee broke up their battle in fantastic fashion using his blinding speed and supreme athleticism. Lee looked poised to win the match, but Mark Coffey and Wolfgang appeared and laid out Briggs, opening the door for their teammate. A top rope maneuver from Lee went awry as he and Coffey’s heads collided, forcing the two woozy to accidentally fall onto Briggs, causing a double pin. While the NXT Universe sat stunned, Femi looked on from the commentary desk and looked pleased at the outcome.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Jaida Parker def. Brinley Reece
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Jaida Parker and Brinley Reece couldn’t wait to get their hands on each other, and it led to a combustible match between the two fast-rising Superstars. The brash Parker made it a point to torture the active Reese, but the energetic Superstar matched that energy with some huge shoulder tackles and a huge flipping lariat. Reece’s teammates Malik Blade and Edris Enofé came down to the ramp to cheer on their teammate, but instead they watched Ms. Parker punch her ticket to Battleground with a thunderous Hip Attack.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Dante Chen def. Lexis King
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Lexis King bit off more than he could chew when he disrespected Mr. Stone and allowed him to pick his opponent, only for the electrifying Chen to be the chosen Superstar. The Singaporean Superstar looked incredible in his return but found himself set up for a Coronation DDT, only to counter it into a winning pinning combination that sent the NXT Universe into a frenzy.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Natalya and Karmen Petrovic def. Shayna Baszler and Lola Vice
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Canadian duo of Natalya and Karmen Petrovic made good on their word and defeated the team of Shayna Baszler and Lola Vice. Baszler and Vice used their background in MMA to systematically bisect Natalya, all while Petrovic could only watch. Once she finally tagged in, the karate expert brought the fight right to her opponents and helped swing momentum back to her team. Despite their skills as singles competitors, Baszler and Vice struggled to get on the same page as a team, leading to a few miscommunications that ended up spelling doom. Natalya and Petrovic managed to isolate Vice and hit The Hart Foundation’s signature Hart Attack, giving them the major victory. After the match, Vice and Baszler came to blows and had to be separated before The Queen of Spades challenged Vice to an NXT Underground Match at Battleground.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
A solid week for NXT, one that started the build towards Battleground but also provided some decent wrestling action at the same time. It’s nice to see the brand finding its “new” stars after the draft – pushing mid-carders up the ranks and giving high-profile wins to the talent who will be the future of NXT (well, until the next draft that is).
